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Times guest blogger Hines Ward discusses Week 8 on 'Dancing With the Stars'

May 11, 2011 | 12:08
pm

The Times is pleased to have Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward guest-blogging for us while he competes on "Dancing With the Stars." Every Wednesday, Ward, a Super Bowl MVP and two-time Super Bowl champion, will answer a few questions from Fabulous Forum editor Houston Mitchell and give some insight into the competition. Here are Ward’s thoughts about Week 8, which he offered via email.

Q: A lot of people are reading your blog here each week and we got a quite a few e-mails after last week’s unfortunate off-the-dance-floor incident. They all want to know how you are doing after a scary situation such as that. So, how are you?

I am doing fine. I mean it was definitely an unusual experience. I've never been in a situation like that before and at first I thought I was being punk'd. But I have no hard feelings. The LAPD was just doing their job and they apologized to me the minute they realized it was a mistake. So it's all good.

Q: With the jive Monday night, you have danced every type of dance on the show. Which is your favorite?

I like both the samba and the paso. The samba because it was the personal dance I did for my mom. I liked the paso because playing the role of a matador got my blood flowing.

Q: Being a pro athlete, you must have especially sympathized with Ralph Macchio dancing through his pain. What was going through your mind while watching him dance Monday, and were you surprised he wasn't the one eliminated Tuesday?

Yeah I felt for Ralph. He is a competitor and wasn't about to quit on his partner. I admire that 'cause I would be the same way. I've played through pain throughout my career and I know how Ralph must have felt. I am not surprised that he wasn't eliminated cause Ralph is not a quitter and he has a loyal fan base that recognizes this. I am just glad he is recovering and is going to be OK.

There are just four people left. Size up the rest of the competition for us. Kirstie Alley?

She has a lot of appeal cause she has a huge Hollywood fan base and she speaks her mind. People love her personality. And she has been dancing well. She is going to be someone to watch out for in the finals.

Chelsea Kane?

Chelsea looks and moves like a professional dancer. Her facial expressions are always great and she is a crowd pleaser and a judge favorite. Again, a tough competitor in this competition. She has style and grace.

Ralph Macchio?

Another tough competitor. Never quits. Always knows how to get the crowd pumped. He is light on his feet and is graceful in his moves. Ralph is in this competition to win it like the rest of us. The bottom line is from this point on any one of us could win this. It is so close and there is really no clear-cut front-runner. We all need to bring our 'A' game the next two weeks to have a chance to win.

Besides being a Super Bowl MVP, Hines Ward is the founder of the Hines Ward Helping Hands Foundation, which focuses on improving literacy among children and provides programs and services to better equip them for achieving and handling success in life.